Roehl Transport

Safety at Roehl may be a cornerstone value, but money is the chief cornerstone value. They will sacrifice legal and safe for an extra dollar.

 

When I questioned Roehl management's accuracy of a stated claim against me (politely asking for documentation/proof), I was confronted with an immediate and extreme prejudicial, condescending attitude. Rather than continue, I was "assisted" in making the decision to leave Roehl.

I walked away feeling relieved to not have to do this anymore. I really thought ...hummm, trucking is just not for me. But now after reading this post and agreeing with all the truth in the negative comments, I'm not so sure that is it trucking as a career that was a lousy decision on my part, rather having chosen Roehl as thee company may have a major role in this.

Probably a mute point, what with less than a year's driving experience I probably don't stand a chance finding another driving job.

 

Sure you can find another driving job with less than a years experience. Its good you have seen Roehl more accurately. They are junk.

 

I worked for Roehl twice - and quit in utter disgust and frustration the second time.

As a new driver I went out with Roehl after graduating from CDL school. I had orientation in Gary - went out with 2 great trainers, and passed through EVo's I,II,III with ease. I thought it was a great company - and I had NO problems with them. I was with them for 11 months and can only say good things about my experience with them in that year.

Then a relative became terminally ill. I could no longer run National and with no hometime fleets near me (Albany, NY) I had to leave Roehl.

After my relative died, I called Roehl up and wanted to get right back to work. They were friendly as always and flew me out ot Marshfield. Because I'd been away from the company for slightly longer than a year they asked me to sit through orientation again. That was the end of the good times....

With all the trucks in Marshfield - they still asked me to rent a car and drive to Atlanta to pick up my truck. They paid me for the miles driven - but becasue another driver came with me and split the trip, I only got half of those miles.

In Atlanta I had to wait at the hotel for 2 days for my truck to get ready

When I finally got my ANCIENT International I drove 230 miles and the fan belt snapped. The truck overheated and the radiator cap blew... and then things started getting REALLY bad.....

After the fan belt was replaced the radiator started leaking coolant at a rate of 2 gallons a day. Now coolant costs a few dollars a gallon - and I was putting in 2 gallons a day...I'd just come out on the road after being out of work with a sick relative for 14 months. I went through tons of cash putting coolant in this radiator.

YES Roehl re-imbursed, but sometimes never the week I submitted the paperwork. Sometimes it took 2 or 3 weeks, sometimes 5, soemtimes more..

And how long did this coolant leak go on you might ask??? 5 WEEKS!!! 5 WEEKS and they wouldn't put me in for maintenance. It got to a point where wanted to just scream.

There were other issues also in my short second stint at Roehl...like the time I was an hour from the house for earned hometime and they turned me around and put me through Canada. I got home 4 days later. I was told I COULD NOT refuse the load.

This all happened in the Spring of 08 when the fuel prices were skyrocketing. I'm sure that had soemthing to do with them not letting me go home, pay me back for coolant, or give me a load that was longer than 250 miles (and I would sit for days...once 4 days in Iowa waiting for a load).

Now the truth is, I don't think trucking was in my heart that second time out. I'm much happier now having left it for good and am going back to college. But what Roehl did was not kosher as far as I'm concerned.

After being back with them for 3 months I finally left. In that time they missed every one of my scheduled hometimes by at least 3 days (the longest time was 9 days). It was 2 months after I stopped working for them that I finally recieved my last payment for coolant....which was a full 4 months after I'd spent it.

The only good thing I can say about Roehl now is that they used to be a good company. Maybe they are again..like I said this was when fuel prices were very high...but who knows. I know I couldn't get anywhere with my DSR's, management, maintenance, etc. Nobody wanted to hear about my broken truck, the out of pocket money I'd spent, or the fact that I wasn't getting any miles but still never being allowed home. After 3 months I had my fill. I left my truck at the Dallas Drop yard, mailed all my stuff and flew home. The end

 

Im also on the home time fleet and the pre-plans are far and few, but I do believe it has a lot to do with the economy and I also think roehl is divding the miles among the fleet to keep everyone some what satisfied. As far as getting home on time that depends on frieght and where you are at, from what I hear from my dsr, excess empty miles to get you home are not a option! I agree they have alot of issues they need to address, I told my dsr when you people have your meetings to bring up the subject of most of the info on the dispatch is wrong. name of the company, phone numbers, even the pick up number! He told me the reason this happens is alot of loads come from outside brokers and they have to go on what ever the broker gives them, I said well at least ask more questions and have someone at customer service do some follow up, the info the drivers get directly affects our performance! hoping it gets better BE SAFE !

 

I worked for roehl and had a good experience, but that was five years ago. Seems from the posts I've read that they have become like the other companies. I was thinking about getting back into trucking, but with the horror stories I've read, I'm probably better off not to right now! This economy is killing the trucking industry and more importantly, the drivers!

 

There is no such thing has taking a write up to a higher authority. You complain and you get terminated for misconduct and insubordination.

 

Homeboy if you still visit this forum, I agree with you.

 

OMG I know how you feel. I challenged the version of events of me needing a tow in a memo that was going to be put in my file. First let me said, I never had any previous disciplinary actions, no verbal warnings, nothing. In fact just before this issue I was praised by my DSR on what a wonderful job I am doing. Then I needed a tow. Two weeks later when I was in the Gary yard (my home terminal is Marshfield) I was told by my DSR that before I left on my load I had to "talk" to the terminal manager Kavin about the tow. Well after going into the room that they use for safety meetings he places this memo in front of me stating that I "failed to park the vehicle on a solid surface which resulted in a tow which is against Roehl's policy." My DSR was on the phone. I told them that's not how it happened. I just didn't decide to park off the road. I misjudged and the drives went onto the shoulder that turned out to be gravel and dirt. Even with the differentials on I got stuck. I just wanted the wording changed. I knew it was my fault and I told them so. I told them I would do whatever steps they wanted me to. I even offered to pay the tow. Jeff E. got involved because Kavin said since they agreed to the wording they needed Jeff's ok. I thought here we go. My DSR told me Roehl was firing drivers for piddely things and that they are sneaky and underhanded so to make getting unemployment impossible. I was also told that the Reefer division knows the drivers and are more personal than van but also they are known to hang drivers out to dry. Anyway, since I disagreed with the wording and tried to defend myself I was told I obviously wasn't serious in being counseled and therefore I was fired. Then I was told that if I didn't sit and listen to Kavin he would kick me off the property without getting any of my property and left on my own. I live in Mo. Trust me Roehl isn't the up front driver friendly company they want you to believe. Sorry about the long post.